Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 (NIV)

Prophecy Sign #6: Temple Rebuilt & Sacrifices Reinstated

Sign #6

Temple Rebuilt & Sacrifices reinstated

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (NIV) [3] Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. [4] He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Daniel 9:27 (NIV) [27] He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him".

What it looks like

The rebuilding of a third temple in Jerusalem will occur on the Temple Mount area. A Problem: Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque located on the Temple Mount. The Sanhedrin's peace initiative was launched on May 1, 2007. Jewish group devoted to rebuilding Temple in Jerusalem sent letters to all world leaders, including Arab ones, inviting them to take part in project, attend conference on Temple Mount in Israel. In the letter, the rabbis warn that the world is nearing a catastrophe, and write that the only way to bring peace among nations, states, and religions is by building a house for God, where Jews will worship, pray and offer up sacrifice, according to the vision of the prophets.

I believe the Jews will soon be allowed to rebuild a third temple on the Temple Mount.The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has spent approximately $27,000,000 on preparations for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple.Most all the temple articles are completed, and the sacrificial altar is currently being built.The Jewish Sanhedrin, which was re-established in 2004 after a hiatus of 1,600 years, along with a prominent Muslim author, Adnan Oktar, are calling for the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple as the way to world peace and religious harmony.

Revelation 11:1-2 (NIV) 1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

The Apostle John was given a vision and a glimpse into the future, specifically the end times. He was told to measure the temple. Today, this temple does not exist, but shortly it will. Today, Gentiles (any person who is not Jewish) have control of the Temple Mount. Two of the Arabs most holy sites, the Dome of the Rock and the Al Asqa mosque, are located on the original temple site and where the Jews will rebuild their sacred temple. I believe the Antichrist will forge a 7 year peace agreement that will allow Israel to rebuild her temple.

Aerial view of the Temple Mount, with the Dome of the Rock in the center and the Al Aqsa Mosque on the left.

A red heifer is necessary in the process of purification described in the book of Numbers, chapter 19

Israel is clearly moving toward the rebuilding of the prophesied third temple on the Temple Mount. A prophecy sign we should keep our eye on regards the birth of a red heifer. The young cow is required to be used in the process of purification described in the book of Numbers, chapter 19. This is a prerequisite for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and without it, the Divine service of the Holy Temple cannot be resumed. A red heifer was thought to have been born in Israel in 2002 but it was later disqualified. There is no doubt a red heifer will soon be born so the third temple can be consecrated. Once it is, prophecy further informs us that in the middle of Daniel's 70th week, exactly 3 ½ years or 1260 days after the signing of the seven year covenant, Antichrist will immediately stop the temple sacrifices. He will proclaim himself God in the holy temple and that abomination will cause desolation and the Great Tribulation.

Genetic research over the past several decades has succeeded in isolating a particular DNA signature shared by all members of the Tribe of Levi, making the reinstitution of Israel's priestly caste a relatively simple endeavor once the Temple is rebuilt. The Kohanim want to serve in the Holy Temple to bring peace to the whole world.

Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem told Arutz-7 that the discovery of the quarry was both historically dramatic and spiritually exhilarating: "Precisely now, when the Moslems are trying to erase all vestiges of the presence of our Holy Temple, and when even among our own leaders there is a trend towards giving it away and viewing it as an unnecessary burden - precisely now, with this discovery, G-d is sending the Jewish People a kiss, as if to say, 'Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you; there are those who want to give it [the Temple Mount] away or take it away from you, but I still have big plans for both you and for the Holy Temple - and the Temple will yet become the focal point of the world once again."

Numbers 6:21-27 (NIV) 21 "'This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.'" 22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 "' "The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."' 27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."

God is about to abundantly bless the nation Israel, the "apple of His eye." Zechariah 2:8-9 (NIV) offers a clear message for those who condemn the nation. 8 For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you--for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye-- 9 I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me." God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will not tolerate those who seek Israel's harm.

1I (John) was given a reed like a measuring rodand was told, (by the mighty angel from Revelation Chapter 10) Go and measure (John's act of measuring signifies God's ownership as he surveys the temple area - but only the temple proper) the temple of God (Gk = hieron, the complete temple building) and the altar, (Gk = naos, the holy of holies, where the ark of the covenant resides) and count the worshipersthere. (The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt during the End Times. See Mt 24:15, Dan 9:27, 11:31. Here, the mighty angel from Ch. 10 is instructing John to literally measure the dimensions of the rebuilt temple. One measures when they are ready to build something.) 2But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. (The "outer court" is the court of the Gentiles and is probably a reference to the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosques, which are holy sites for Muslims. Note that it is the proximity of Islamic holy sites to the temple grounds that has for so long kept the temple from being rebuilt) They (the Gentiles, and more specifically, the followers of Antichrist) will trample on the holy city (of Jerusalem) for 42 months. (During the second half of Daniel's 70th Week, which lasts 3 1/2 years, or 42 months, the followers of Antichrist will abuse and dishonor the holy city of Jerusalem by allowing worship of false gods upon the very holy site God calls His house. Specifically, once the Abomination of Desolation occurs, the rebuilt temple will become a site of idol worship for Gentiles. In Daniel 8, the prophet Daniel set forth a dual prophecy of desolation in the temple. The first prophecy was fulfilled by a Gentile ruler named Antiochus Epiphanies, a cruel Syrian king who in 168 B.C. plundered Jerusalem and murdered hundreds of Jews. Antiochus Epiphanies desecrated the temple by offering a pig - a dirty animal - upon the altar. Antiochus Epiphanies also had an image of himself placed in the holy of holies. Daniel's prophecy also describes the desolation that will occur during Daniel's 70th Week.

Remains of the Jewish second temple may have been found during work to lay pipes at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem, Israeli television reported Thursday (8.30.07). Israeli television broadcast footage of a mechanical digger at the site which Israeli archaeologists visited. The Second temple has not existed since it was destroyed by the Roman armies of Titus in 70 AD. This destruction was the beginning of the Diaspora, the scattering of Israel from her homeland to the ends of the earth. In 1948 Israel was established as a nation and regathered, ending the Diaspora. Daniel 9:27 makes it clear that there must be a new temple rebuilt on the Temple Mount because Antichrist , in his Abomination of Desolation, "will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering."

I ran across an interesting quote from Isaac Newton; "About the Time of the End, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the Prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation, in the midst of much clamor and opposition." I suppose I would be one of those men. Newton understood that one of the first principles of interpretation (i.e. our hermeneutic) is that all scripture is to be taken in its customary, natural and normal sense (i.e. literal), allowing for obvious symbolism and figures of speech. That said, Daniel gives us a very literal picture of what the future holds for the Temple Mount... Daniel 9:27 (NIV) 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him".

The tzitz is made of pure gold, was fashioned over the course of a more than a year by the craftsmen of the Temple Institute, and is ready to be worn by the High Priest in the rebuilt Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Rabbi Richman said, "We have begun work on 120 sets of garments for 'regular' priests, not the High Priest. This involves special thread from India, etc. In addition, we have begun work onarchitectural blueprints for the Third Temple, including cost projection, modern supplies, electricity, plumbing, computers, etc." "We are now approaching the holiday of Chanukah," Rabbi Richman continued, "which is the holiday that commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple. We're not just building beautiful vessels; we're interested in granting G-d the dwelling place that He wants in this world;

Since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, religious Jews have prayed that God will allow for the building of a Third Temple. This prayer has been a formal part of the traditional thrice daily Jewish prayer services. Though it remains unbuilt, the notion of and desire for a Third Temple is sacred in Judaism, particularly Orthodox Judaism, as an unrealized place of worship. The prophets in the Tanakh called for its construction, to be fulfilled in the Messianic era. Orthodox Judaism believes in the rebuilding of a Third Temple and the resumption of sacrificial worship, although there is disagreement about how rebuilding should take place or exactly what kind of worship will occur. Orthodox authorities generally believe that rebuilding should occur in the era of the Jewish Messiah at the hand of Divine Providence, although a minority position, following the opinion of Maimonides, holds that Jews should endeavor to rebuild the temple themselves, whenever possible. Orthodox authorities generally predict the resumption of the complete traditional system of sacrifices, but some authorities have disagreed. It has traditionally been assumed that some sort of animal sacrifices would be reinstituted, in accord with the rules in Leviticus and the Talmud. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The Third Temple)

As I look at this remarkable photo of the Temple Mount, I reflect on the holy history that has occurred here. It was here where Abraham was to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice in obedience to God's command. It was here where Solomon's temple was built and the daily sacrifices occurred. It was here where Jesus was tempted by Satan. It was here where James, brother of Jesus and leader of the Church in Jerusalem, was martyred by being thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple Mount.

However, there is so much more history that is soon to be written. It is here where a third temple will be built. (One can easily see how Israel could rebuild their temple without disturbing the Muslim's sacred Dome of the Rock.) It is here where the Antichrist will proclaim himself God. It is here where the Image of the Beast will reside. In any case, if we are beginning to witness the prophetic fulfillment concerning this holy site, and if we are living in the end-times, Israel will not agree to forfeit the land... ever. Instead, they will negotiate for the rebuilding of the Temple on Mount Zion along with animal sacrifice. And I believe that will be one of the key indicators Daniel's 70th week has begun!

The Temple Institute is dedicated to elevating public awareness in preparation for the building of the Third Temple. Hundreds of thousands from all over the world identify with the cause, and send hefty donations to assist the institute in implimenting its dream. Infolive.tv spoke with Rabbi Chaim Richman about the work being done at the institute, why so many identify with the cause, and whether the rebuilding of the Temple will bring peace to the world.

Jerusalem Post reports 1.17.08 "A stone seal bearing the name of one of the families who acted as servants in the First Temple and then returned to Jerusalem after being exiled to Babylonia has been uncovered in an archeological excavation in Jerusalem's City of David, a prominent Israel archeologist said Wednesday... According to the Book of Nehemiah, the Temech family were servants of the First Temple and were sent into exile to Babylon following its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BCE... The 2.1 x 1.8-cm. elliptical seal is engraved with two bearded priests standing on either side of an incense altar with their hands raised forward in a position of worship... One cannot help being astonished by the credibility of the biblical source as seen by the archaeological find."

The historical accuracy of the Bible proves it is the Word of God, to be taken literally. In other words, biblical reliability, past present and future. This fact adds to the excitement of watching for unfufilled prophecies coming true in our lifetime.

950 B.C. King Solomon builds First Temple of Jerusalem.

586 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and Temple of Solomon. End of First Temple period. Jews exiled to Babylon.

515 B.C. Second Temple built upon ruins of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.

18 B.C. Herod begins vast renovation of Second Temple.

66-70 A.D. Jewish revolt against Rome. Jerusalem and Second Temple captured by Rome and razed.

691 B.C. Dome of the Rock built on Temple Mount.

Future Date yet tbd... Third Temple built upon Temple Mount.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT) He (Antichrist) will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.

This article is from the Jerusalem Post 2.14.2007. It is a follow up to yesterday's posting supporting Biblical Reliaibilty. The following question is one of twenty Dr. Mazar answers in this fascinating interview...

Thomas Crispin, Phoenix, Arizona: What is the most exciting thing you've discovered in your career so far?

Dr. Mazar: My most exciting find was a personal seal impression one centimeter in diameter from the First Temple period that had the name of a minister who was part of the government of Zedekaya. I found it last year during my excavation in the City of David. His name is mentioned in the book of Jeremiah - he was the one who asked King Zedekaya to kill the prophet Jeremiah because he was telling the people of Jerusalem to surrender to the Babylonians. This is astonishing because it is a direct connection between an archeological find and a biblical document. It reinforces our understanding and appreciation of the bible as an historical source of great authenticity.

Arutz Sheva 2.3.08. (IsraelNN.com) A virtual tour of Har HaBayit, the Temple Mount, brings those who have never been upon Mt. Moriah on a tour of Judaism's holiest site. Israel National Radio's Rabbi Chaim Richman, who heads the Temple Institute, has released a first-of-its-kind video that allows every Jew to experience a tour of the Temple Mount (filmed in 2005 - three 30 minute clips).

Rabbi Richman offers keen insights regarding the location of Temple. At one point he cautiously breaks into a heart-felt prayer from the holiest place on earth, where no prayer is allowed. His prayer to Adonai... "May it be your will the temple will be rebuilt speedily, and in our days." He instructs his listeners that this holiest place on earth is the center of God's creation, the foundation stone of the universe, the place where Adam was created, the place where Abraham offered up his only son Isaac, and the site Solomon declared the place of prayer. He rebukes the nation on how God's house lies in ruin and has become a national park for Muslims. Proclaimed the third holiest site of Islam, the city Jerusalem is not mentioned anywhere in the Koran, not even once. In striking contrast, Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in the Hebrew Bible. Commenting on the tradition the Messiah will come through the Eastern/Mercy/Golden Gate, Muslims have taken this tradition so seriously they have sealed up this gate and planted a cemetery on the outside, prohibiting any Jew from entering through it as contact with the dead would make one impure... Double insulation if you will. Ironically, this active cemetery is reserved for only suicide bombers. In other words, whoever blows up the most Jews, gets to try to keep out the Messiah.

"FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1,938 years the linen garments of the lay priests are being produced in preparation for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and the renewal of the Divine service... The garments being created are not museum pieces or collector's items. Their cost is 2,500 shekel, (approximately $695). They will be sold only to true decendants of the High Priest Aharon, who aspire to be fully prepared for the day when they can once again perform the Divine service in the Holy Temple, may we merit to rebuild it soon!"

Since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D., religious Jews have prayed that God will allow for the building of a Third Temple. I believe the Bible clearly teaches a Third Temple will be rebuilt upon the Temple Mount immediately before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It will be built shortly before or at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week. Unfortunately, the third temple will not become the place of worship religious Jews long for. Instead, the coming Antichrist, the greatest deceiver of all time, will desecrate the Temple by proclaiming himself God there and setting up his image to be worshipped by the entire world. With all that is happening in Israel, we may very well be the generation that is destined to see this event actually occur. If we do see this prophecy fulfilled in our lifetime, it will defintely mean the End-Times have begun and time for us to prepare and warn our friends & loved-ones of the Lord's quick return to this earth will be very short!

Daniel 9:27 (MSG) 27 "Then for one seven, he will forge many and strong alliances, but halfway through the seven he will banish worship and prayers. At the place of worship, a desecrating obscenity will be set up and remain until finally the desecrator himself is decisively destroyed."

Matthew 24:15 (MSG)15 "But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up in the Temple sanctuary. The prophet Daniel described this. If you've read Daniel, you'll know what I'm talking about.

(Communicated by the Israel Antiquities Authority) "This is actually the first time in the history of the archaeological research of Jerusalem that building remains from the First Temple period were exposed so close to the Temple Mount - on the eastern slopes of the Upper City. The walls of the buildings are preserved to a height of more than 2 meters."

The possibility of a Third Temple seems to be more feasible every day. This fascinating news story made me wonder if we might also be getting close to finding the Ark of the Covenant? I refer to the following article from The Temple Institute:

The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most fascinating of all Temple-related subjects. There are many theories about what happened to the Ark of the Covenant, and speculation abounds as to its actual location. Some people think it was taken to the Vatican, together with other Temple vessels, such as those depicted on the Roman monument, the Arch of Titus. There are many authentic, ancient historical chronicles, and even more popular legends, that attest to many sacred vessels having been taken away to Rome. However, this does not apply to the most holy feature of the First Temple, the Ark.

While some claim to have evidence that the ark is in Ethiopia, and of course, moviegoers were treated to a fanciful version of the story in "Raiders of the Lost Ark," in reality, the expression "lost" ark is not an accurate description for the Jewish people's point of view - because we have always known exactly where it is. So the Ark is "Hidden," and hidden quite well, but it is not lost.

Tradition records that even as King Solomon built the First Temple, he already knew, through Divine inspiration, that eventually it would be destroyed. Thus Solomon, the wisest of all men, oversaw the construction of a vast system of labyrinths, mazes, chambers and corridors underneath the Temple Mount complex. He commanded that a special place be built in the bowels of the earth, where the sacred vessels of the Temple could be hidden in case of approaching danger. Midrashic tradition teaches that King Josiah of Israel, who lived about forty years before the destruction of the First Temple, commanded the Levites to hide the Ark, together with the original menorah and several other items*, in this secret hiding place which Solomon had prepared.

This location is recorded in our sources, and today, there are those who know exactly where this chamber is. And we know that the ark is still there, undisturbed, and waiting for the day when it will be revealed. An attempt was made some few years ago to excavate towards the direction of this chamber. This resulted in widespread Moslem unrest and rioting. They stand a great deal to lose if the Ark is revealed - for it will prove to the whole world that there really was a Holy Temple, and thus, that the Jews really do have a claim to the Temple Mount. (The official position of the Islamic Wakf, the body that governs over the Temple Mount, is that there never was a Holy Temple, and that the Jews have no rights whatsoever to the place).

* such as the staff of Aaron that brought forth almond blossoms during the controversy involving Korach (Numbers 16); the jar of manna that had been placed in the Holy of Holies as a testimony; and the jar of anointing oil.

By Chris Mitchell. CBN News Mideast Bureau Chief. March 31, 2008. Most scholars agree this unique scroll describes the treasures of the Jerusalem Temple that were buried shortly before 70 C.E., when the Roman legions burned the city and its holy sanctuary. The Copper Scroll describes a hidden cache of gold and silver buried in more than 60 locations throughout Israel. The monetary value is close to $3 billion, but the historical value - is priceless. Stephen Pfann is one of the editors of the Dead Sea Scrolls. "What's interesting is that there were actually two treasure maps that were made," Pfann said. "Line 64 of the copper scroll is the most fascinating of all - hard to decode but quite compelling," said author Joel Rosenberg.

The Discovery of all Discoveries

Rosenberg hit the New York Times bestseller list with his novel on the Copper Scroll. He believes the second scroll is still out there and it could be the key to the greatest archaeological prize in history. "What if finding the treasures of the Copper Scroll did in fact lead to the Ark of the Covenant being found?" he asked. Rosenberg may be on to something. Ancient Jewish writings say the ark and other first temple treasures were hidden by priests before the invasion of the Babylonians. Their locations were inscribed on a tablet of copper. Rosenberg said, "The Key Scroll has never been found, nobody has any idea where it is." "What would be most dramatic is if in fact the treasures that are described by the Copper Scroll -and perhaps revealed more fully in the Key Scroll - are in fact from the second temple. Finding them would in fact be the most dramatic archeological discovery of all time."

Instructions: When you click on the title, it will "link" you to the actual story on CBN.com. Once you are there, click on the bottom left arrow in the photo to see the entire video... but be patient. Apparently the introduction to the video is copyrighted and it is "blacked out" for about 45 seconds. Once it begins, you will see some fantastic historical footage from June 7, 1967 as Israeli troops recapture Jerusalem in the Six-Days War.

Chris Mitchell. CBN News Mideast Bureau Chief. April 1, 2008. "Scholars may not agree on the fate of the Ark but many of them agree on one thing: it's discovery could set in motion another event that's been 2000 years in the making - the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple."

Is there an animal sacrifice being planned for April 6? We have seen many news articles reporting on the work and preparation for the new temple. The blueprints are already done, the temple garments have been made, and there have already been attempts to lay the cornerstone of the temple. Now they are attempting to practice animal sacrifices. Is it just me, or is this movement gaining momentum, in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy? Fasten your seatbelts everyone, this could get exciting!

Gil Ronen reports: (IsraelNN.com) Animal rights group "Tnoo Lachayot Lichyot" ("Let the Animals Live") is threatening to take legal action to prevent the Jewish Temple movement from carrying out an educational demonstration of the Pesach (Passover) sacrifice next week (Sunday, April 6, 2008).

The demonstration of the Paschal sacrifice is part of a study day scheduled to take place on Sunday, the First of Nissan (April 6), at the Kotel Yeshiva in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City. The study day is a joint project of the Temple Institute, the Sanhedrin and the King David Museum. It was originally planned to take place one week later, but the organizers decided to dedicate it to the memory of the eight yeshiva boys murdered in Jerusalem recently, and to hold it on the 30th day after their death.

The study day is to include a public sacrifice which is being termed a "general rehearsal" for the actual Pesach sacrifice on the Temple Mount, a ritual prescribed by the Torah but currently forbidden by the Israel government and courts.

We are moving closer and closer to the rebuilding of the Temple. (IsraelNN.com) The Jerusalem Magistrate's court ruled Friday that the Jewish Temple movement may, under state law, slaughter a sheep on Sunday as a "general rehearsal" for the renewal of the Pesach (Passover) sacrifice.

Haaretz reports 2.15.08: "The 5.3-magnitute earthquake that jolted Israel on Friday shook open a large hole on the Temple Mount plaza, near the Dome of the Rock... The Islamic Movement blamed Israel for the hole, saying Israel is digging tunnels in the area that undermine the stability in the area of the Al-Aqsa mosque."

The square mile of the Temple Mount is becoming headline news. Bible prophecy is very clear, the Jewish temple will be rebuilt. How it will happen is not so clear. Some suggest God will use supernatural means involving a massive earthquake to destroy the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque, clearing the way for the building of the third temple.

Luke 21:11 (ESV) 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Matthew 24:15-16 (ESV) 15 "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Daniel 9:27 (NIV) He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him".

Friends, this 'saber rattling' around ownership of the Temple Mount is not going away. In fact, I think it is going to escalate to front page news around the world very soon. Why? Muslims claim the Temple Mount is 100% Islamic. Jews claim the Temple mount is 100% Jewish, and Israel's holiest site. And most importantly, the prophecies of the Bible claim it is here that a third temple will be rebuilt, the location where re-establishment of the animal sacrifices will be permitted and it will all be centered around a 7 year peace agreement involving the nation Israel and the Antichrist. How can this all be true? What exactly does it look like? Time will tell as the exact fulfillment of the prophecies unfold before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In fact, for those who are looking for the signs of His Coming, it will become crystal clear. Truly, the Temple Mount is the epicenter of all end-times prophecy!

Matthew 24:15-16 (ESV) 15 "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Daniel 9:27 (NIV) He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him".

In the News...

Telegraph.co.uk. Picture Galleries. How About That. February 27, 2009

Now, here's a model of biblical proportions. A retired farmer has spent more than 30 years building an enormous scale model of Herod's temple - and it is still not finished. Alec Garrard, 78, has dedicated a massive 33,000 hours to constructing the ancient temple, which measures a whopping 20ft by 12ft. The Temple was probably located on the site of what today is the Dome of the Rock.More Photos

Donnie's Remarks...

This article demonstrates that the world remains fascinated with the Temple. Why is that? Probably many different reasons, but one of them is surely the unfulfilled prophecies that surround it. What are some of the prophecy signs we should be looking for that let's us know we are in the End Times? The Tribulation Temple will be built by unbelieving Jews and desecrated by the Antichrist. This Temple is referred to in Scripture as the Temple of God. It is not the same as the Millennial Temple, which will be built by Jesus (read about it in Ezekiel 40-48). The Antichrist will desecrate the Tribulation Temple (Abomination of Desolation) by taking a seat of authority inside the Temple and claiming to be God. All these events will occur in the first 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week. Keep your eyes on Jerusalem. That's where the action will begin.

Revelation 11:1-2 (NIV) 1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

Matthew 24:15-16 (NIV) 15 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (NIV) 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

A prominent U.S. rabbi recently ascended the Temple Mount - Judaism's most revered site - stirring a quiet debate among some within the Jewish religious community about whether Jews should be permitted to enter the mount. Some rabbis forbid Jewish entry, while others permit it. Those who oppose ascending the mount may indirectly contribute to the current Islamic consolidation of the site, argued Rabbi Moshe Dovid Tendler, a Jewish law and ethics professor and top rabbinic scholar. "The reality is that slowly the area has become without Jews," Tendler told WND. "The claim of the Arabs that it belongs to them is being affirmed by our (Jewish) absence."

Muslim holy site?

King Solomon built the First Temple in the 10th century B.C. The Babylonians destroyed it in 586 B.C. The Jews built the Second Temple in 515 B.C. after Jerusalem was freed from Babylonian captivity. The Romans destroyed the Second Temple in A.D. 70.

The First Temple stood for about 400 years, the second for almost 600. Both Temples served as the center of religious worship for the whole Jewish nation. All Jewish holidays centered on worship at the Temple - the central location for the offering of sacrifices and the main gathering place for the Jewish people.

According to the Talmud, God created the world from the foundation stone of the Temple Mount.

The site is believed to be the biblical Mount Moriah, where Abraham fulfilled God's test of faith by demonstrating his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac.

Jewish tradition also holds that Mashiach - literally "the anointed one," the Jewish Messiah - will come and rebuild the third and final temple on the Mount in Jerusalem and bring redemption to the entire world. Read More

Donnie's Remarks...

This article provides a brief and helpful history regarding both the Jewish and Muslim claims to the Temple Mount. Remember, the Third Jewish Temple is prophesied to be rebuilt on this very site. It is in this 'Tribulation Temple' that the Antichrist will proclaim himself to be God. Keep your eyes focused on more and more breaking news about the Temple Mount as we approach the beginning of Daniel's 70th week.

After visiting the Temple Mount, Ari and Jeremy speak with Rabbi Chaim Richman from the Temple Institute and ask: Will the temple fall from heaven or do we need to start building it?

Featured guest Rabbi Chaim Richman, expert on the Third Temple, was interviewed on "Tuesday Night Live in Jerusalem." This 20 minute clip helps us to better understand the Jewish mindset and why Israel needs the Temple. Richman proclaims, "Of the 613 commandments accepted by the Jewish people, 202 completely depend on the Temple for fulfillment." Some rabbi's believe the temple is to fall down from the sky. Some rabbi's think that when the Messiah comes... he will build the Temple. Richman issues a call to action; "Build the Temple... and then the Messiah will come!" Rabbi Richman, Director of the Temple Institute, teaches that the first step toward the Third Temple is to create the Temple vessels. He also challenges the Jewish people to visit the Temple Mount, and demonstrate to God that the Jewish people have not given up hope.Click here to see video

Donnie's Remarks...

Every Old Testament and New Testament prophet says the Temple will be rebuilt. More importantly, the sad truth is that the Jewish people, in part, have been blinded to the identity of the Messiah. And this will continue into Daniel's 70th week until the full number of Gentiles have come in, and then "all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:25-26). In the meantime, we Gentiles are commanded by the Apostle Paul to beware of any spirit of arrogance (anti-Semitism) toward the Jewish people (Romans 11:20-22). As we approach the End Times, we are to love and support them! Why? Because a "Deliverer" shall come out of Zion and take away the sins and ungodliness of Jacob, who represents the Jewish people (Romans 11:26). That "Deliverer out of Zion" is none other than Jesus Christ. I believe our generation may live to see Jesus' return as Israel's Messiah. And when He comes, we will see Him sitting on the throne of King David, on the Temple Mount, in the city of Jerusalem.

In the News

INN.com. by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu. May 21, 2009

Israel may find Iran as one of the administrators of the Temple Mount, according to a new Palestinian Authority plan reported Thursday by the Hebrew-language newspaper Haaretz.PA sources said giving up claims to the Temple Mount and handing over control to the 57-member Saudi-based Islamic Conference Organization is conditional on Israel's agreeing to a final status agreement.

Donnie's Remarks...

A couple of weeks ago I predicted that we are going to be hearing a lot about the city of Jerusalem and her holy sites in the coming weeks. And here it is, the story we have been waiting for to signal that the end times may be fast approaching. Temple Mount discussions will lead to 'Temple' discussions, which will lead to 'animal sacrifice' discussions. These are all prophesied signs associated with the peace discussions. Stay tuned everyone.

In the News...

Arutz Sheva. by Gil Ronen. May 26, 2009.

(IsraelNN.com) Sheikh Raad Salah, leader of the Northern Wing of the Islamic Movement in Israel, believes Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will try to rebuild the Jewish Temple. Speaking at a conference organized by website Islam Online in Doha, Qatar, Salah stated his belief that Netanyahu may try to build the Jewish Temple - which the Islamic preacher called "the false temple" - during his current term after allegedly failing to do so in his first term as Prime Minister in the late 1990s. Read More

Donnie's Remarks...

Why do I believe we may be living in the last days? Let me give you six reasons: 1. Israel became a nation in 1948. All end-time prophecy is centered around the nation Israel. 2. Jerusalem was captured by Israel in 1967. All end-time prophecy clearly defines all nations coming against Israel. 3. We are beginning to hear talk about long-term peace agreements with Israel. 4. Our generation is the largest, most knowledgeable and most traveled in history. 5. Israel is on the brink of a world changing conflict. 6. The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is fast becoming the center of attention for the world.

In the News...

A new best-selling book on the hidden mysteries of the Jerusalem Temple Mount claims to have discovered the resting place of the lost Ark of the Covenant - the biblical refuge of the Ten Commandments handed down to Moses at Sinai. In "Temple at the Center of Time: Newton's Bible Codex Deciphered and the Year 2012," by David Flynn, a book that has skyrocketed up the best-seller charts before its official release later this month, says his studies of the Temple Mount strongly suggest the Ark will be found at Mount Nebo in Jordan. The discovery would be the greatest archeological find ever - as has been suggested in popular movies such as "Raiders of the Lost Ark." In "Temple at the Center of Time," Flynn makes the case that the Temple Mount, the home of the Jewish temples, was not just a place of religious worship. It is also is a roadmap to future events - a kind of prophetic landmark whose significance is only now revealed through the development of satellite imagery. Read More

Donnie's Remarks...

I am a big fan of author Joel C. Rosenberg. He has written several novels but his most recent book, "Epicenter" is a nonfiction work, and Rosenberg's personal knowledge and contacts in Israel are what make it so compelling. "Epicenter" explains why the current rumblings in the Middle East will change your future. This is a must read for those who love Bible prophecy. Here are a few quotes explaining why the Jews will build their Third Temple; "When one looks at current and future events through the third lens of Scripture, the image of the coming temple is clear. Ezekiel spends two chapters describing the War of Gog and Magog, but the next nine chapters describes the future 'house of the Lord." "Daniel speaks of an end-times Temple that will be desecrated by a future enemy of God (known by Christians as the "Antichrist"), and this view was verified in the New Testament by the apostles Paul and John and by Jesus Christ himself." Rosenberg is convinced that the Temple will be rebuilt because the Bible says it will. "We simply are not sure how it will happen." He postulates several scenarios from the Gog/Magog War, to supernatural judgment involving involving a massive earthquake.

Rosenberg is known for predicting future headlines by taking the prophecies of the Bible literally. "All this constitutes further evidence that the building if the Third Temple is increasingly close at hand and that the events of Ezekiel 38-39 are as well. They are like strobe lights along an airport runway at night, guiding a pilot in for a landing. When we see such lights, we are not yet at our final destination, but we know we are closer than ever. On this final approach, therefore, we would be well advised to keep our eyes peeled for other events that, while not explicitly promised in the Scripture, would certainly be consistent with the rebuilding of the Temple... Imagine the international uproar that would be caused by the sudden rediscovery of the Ark of the Covenant."

In the News...

The Jerusalem Post. By David Smith. Oct 16, 2008

For centuries Jews have remembered and mourned the destruction of the Temple through traditions such as crushing a glass at weddings or leaving unpainted a patch of wall opposite the entrance to one's home - each stressing that nothing can be perfect or complete without the Temple. Built by Solomon in about 950 BCE and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, the Temple was rebuilt about 70 years later but finally razed by the Romans in 70 CE. Talmud scholar Rabbi Yohanan wrote: "During these times that the Temple is demolished, a person is not allowed to fill his mouth with laughter. This is because the verse [Psalms 126] says, 'Then our mouths will be filled with laughter,' and does not say 'Now our mouths will be filled with laughter.' And when is 'then'? 'Then' will be when the Third Temple is rebuilt."

In other words, "Jewish life without the Temple is like fish out of water," says Rabbi Chaim Richman, head of the international department of the Temple Institute. An author of 10 books on the Temple, Richman adds: "Do you realize that 202 commandments out of 613 must have the Temple to be fulfilled? Without the Temple, Judaism is a skeleton of what it's supposed to be."

To this end, the Temple Institute was founded in 1987 with the explicit goal of rebuilding the Temple. Located in the Jewish Quarter, some 100,000 visitors, about half of them Christian, visit the institute each year to learn about the First and Second Temples and preparations for the Third Temple.

The institute is presently involved in education, research and constructing vessels for use in the longed-for Temple. Richman relates a story about Temple Institute founder Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, a paratrooper who helped liberate the Old City, including the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, in June 1967.

A Jordanian Muslim guide led the soldiers around the Temple Mount explaining where the Temple and other fixtures, such as the menora and altar, had stood. When asked why he was helpful, the guide explained, "We have a tradition that one day the Jews would win a war and rebuild the Temple. This is my contribution. I assume you're starting tomorrow." Although Temple Institute staff have been called lunatics, zealots and racists by some, they maintain that there is nothing more natural for the Jewish faithful to do than make preparations for the Third Temple.

"The hallmark of the Third Temple is unparalleled peace and harmony," says Richman. "I believe that the best that a Jew can do is to have the integrity to believe and do as much as possible toward building the Temple." According to Richman the first step in this process is soul searching. "The answer is returning to our spiritual roots. This adds up to building up the holy Temple. It's the vehicle that builds up reconciliation between God and man... not just Jewish people."

READ MORE - I encourage you to read this entire prophetic significant article!

Donnie's Remarks...

Economic distress, collapse of world markets, a ten nation confederacy, the revival of the Roman empire, a seven year peace agreement, wars and rumors of wars, Gog and Magog... these are all signs that we are keeping a watchful eye on. Understandably, I am frequently asked about the timing of these events and how they relate to the End Times. But any serious student of prophecy knows that setting times is very difficult, if not impossible. On the other hand, God's prophetic alarm clock starts ringing loudly when I read an article like "Temple Time? " I have always maintained that if you want to know the timing, all you have to do is look to Israel and watch for the rebuilding of the third temple. This article appeared Oct 16, 2008 in the Jerusalem Post. Sometimes I read an article that makes me stop and shake my head and ask, "Is this really happening?" Temple Time? The question goes beyond our wildest imagination... Are we really the generation that is to witness the rebuilding of God's holy temple? Evidence is pointing strongly in that direction. Please take a moment to pause with me... the prophetic significance of this story is beyond sobering. In fact, 2000 years ago the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church to be sure they understood that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ would not occur UNTIL AFTER the Antichrist would declare himself God, in the holy temple!

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (ESV) 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

In other words, the New Testament teaches that the church will see the Second Coming of Jesus, but only after the temple is rebuilt and the Antichrist declares himself God in the temple.

Matthew 24:15 (MSG) 15 "But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up in the Temple sanctuary. The prophet Daniel described this. If you've read Daniel, you'll know what I'm talking about.

So, if we see the temple being rebuilt, that means Jesus' return is only a few years away. Like Christians, Orthodox Jews tie the coming of the Messiah to the rebuilding of the temple, but with two major exceptions: 1. They do not believe Jesus is the Messiah. 2. They do not accept the authority of the New Testament scriptures.Most of you who are reading this article believe Jesus is the Messiah and you also believe that the New Testament is the Word of God. My question to you is this... What if? What if we begin to witness this sign Paul said would have to happen immediately before the return of Jesus? If we see the construction of the third temple are we ready for what follows? What will you say to your family and friends when they ask you 'what in the world is going on?' I suppose what I am ultimately asking is this... Do you know what you will need to do to face the End Times? And, are you ready to meet Jesus face-to-face?You see, Prophecy Signs is not about selling books, CD's, DVD's or anything else. We have no sponsors and we take no donations. Prophecy Signs exists for one purpose -- to help our friends and loved ones, (and anyone else who might want to listen), how to be prepared for the End Times if we are indeed the generation to witness Jesus' Second Coming. Prophecy is one of the most compelling arguments that the entire Bible is 100% true, and reliable. That simply means, Jesus is everything he claimed to be and someday he is coming back to this world to set up an everlasting kingdom. So again, are you ready? I believe the Book of Revelation is written to the Church to help prepare a special generation for a very difficult, yet destined, 3 1/2 year time period which some call the Great Tribulation. So, while the questions are many and difficult, the simplest answer to them all is... Jesus. Honest men and women know we are all much worse sinners then we ever could imagine. Contemplating this fact is very depressing and can lead to hopelessness. Our sin is great. God's power is greater. That's really good news. Jesus is a much greater Savior than we ever thought and he loves us more than we could ever have hoped for or know. He only requires that you accept what he has done. His work makes us perfect in the sight of God. Having this assurance will lead us through any and every trial, including the end-times, that we might face.

This article began by stressing the Jewish tradition which teaches that nothing can be perfect or complete without the Temple being rebuilt. Not true. Jesus is perfect... and he offers perfection to you and me.

Temple Time? I hope so. Come Lord Jesus!

Revelation 22:20-21 (MSG) 20 He who testifies to all these things says it again: "I'm on my way! I'll be there soon!" Yes! Come, Master Jesus! 21 The grace of the Master Jesus be with all of you. Oh, Yes!

JERUSALEM - Meeting with an Islamist leader here, the Palestinian Authority's chief negotiator this past weekend discussed ways to solidify Islamic control over the Temple Mount and block Jews from purchasing real estate in areas surrounding the holy site, according to a source involved in the talks. The Palestinian Maan news agency quoted chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurei as saying there can be no agreement with Israel unless it forfeits Jerusalem, and that postponing an agreement on the issue will only provide the Jewish state more time to "Judaize" the city. "The Palestinian Authority will not negotiate and will not sign on any agreement with Israel that does not include Jerusalem," Qurei reportedly said during a meeting with Raed Salah, chief of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Sheikh Raed Salah, whose organization seeks for Islam to takeover the Temple Mount. "The Palestinian leadership is decisive (in its stance) not to negotiate and conclude matters with the Israelis without Jerusalem," Queri said. "The postponement of the discussion of this issue is aimed at continuing the Israeli plans to Judaize the holy city, especially the Al-Aksa mosque." Read More

Donnie's Remarks...

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is a 35-acre site where millions of Jews, Muslims, and Christians believe the end times will play out. As we approach Daniel's 70th week, it will help us to be familiar with the history of this important area. The site, the Biblical Mount Moriah, was the site of the Jew's First Temple, destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC, and the site of the Second Temple, which the Romans literally leveled in 70 AD. Then in 685 AD, Muslims, believing this site to be the place from which the Prophet Mohammed ascended into Heaven atop a steed, built the 'Noble Sanctuary', containing the Dome of the Rock. Somewhere on the Temple Mount, the future third Jewish temple is prophesied to be rebuilt. Antichrist will allow the rebuilding for his own evil purposes. As you can see from the illustration below, there is plenty of room for a new temple. Will the new temple be allowed to co-exist with the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount? Or will the Dome of the Rock be razed to allow for the third temple? Time will tell. Jewish history begins and ends with this holy site promised to the nation Israel. The rebuilding of the Jewish temple will occur sometime before or during the first 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week, at some undetermined location on the Temple Mount.

Daniel 11:31 (NIV) "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation."

The groundwork for this End Times prophecy is being laid and the Temple Mount is becoming a pointed topic of conversation very early in the peace process with the Palestinians. This article in WorldNet Daily makes it sounds like the Palestinian negotiators are drawing a line in the sand.

In the News...

By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent. 8.24.08.

Israel's leading ultra-Orthodox rabbis are waging a new offensive against Jews visiting Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Rabbis Shalom Elyashiv, Chaim Kanievsky and Ovadia Yosef sent a letter recently to Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovich, the overseer of holy places in the Western Wall complex, urging him to reiterate the religious decree signed 40 years ago by most rabbis in Israel forbidding Jews from entering the Mount... After Israel gained control of the Temple Mount in the 1967 Six-Day War, the chief rabbinate placed signs around the complex informing visitors that entering the area would result in divine punishment, namely death... Visits by religious Jews to the site have also increased significantly. Some rabbis have cited the principle of the "law of conquest," according to which territories in the Holy Land must be wrested from "foreign" control. Read More

Israeli National News. By Ze'ev Ben-Yechiel. 8.24.08.

Several of Israel's leading rabbis have fired the latest shot in one of modern Israel's longest halachic disputes - whether a Jew may enter the Temple Mount today. Rabbis Ovaia Yosef, Shalom Elyashiv and Chaim Kanievsky recently sent a letter to Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovich, the rabbi in charge of the Western Wall area, asking him to repeat a 40-year-old decree prohibiting Jews from entering the Temple Mount. The decree was originally signed by most leading rabbis upon the Mount's capture by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War... The debate centers on whether or not we have enough information from classical rabbinical sources to identify the location of the Holy of Holies, as well as the layout of the Temple, which articulated specific areas accessible to different categories of Jews. The biblical prohibition against a person entering an area in the Temple complex forbidden to him carries with it a penalty of death. Read More

In the News...

IsraelNN.com. by Hillel Fendel. 08.08.08

The fast of Tisha B'Av, the "saddest" day in the Jewish calendar, begins on Saturday night as the Sabbath ends, and ends Sunday evening at sundown. Its name literally means "the ninth day of the Jewish month of Av," the date of some of the gravest tragedies to have befallen the Jewish People. Most notably, both Holy Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed on Tisha B'Av... Asked whether he calls for the actual construction of the Temple, he said, "There are many religious authorities, including Maimonides, who say that the Temple must be rebuilt, and so I think it should be done... The centerpiece of Tisha B'Av mourning is the destruction of the Holy Temple (Beit HaMikdash). Among the many groups that have sprouted over the past several years promoting awareness of the Beit HaMikdash is one named "Secular Jews for the Temple." ... As a first step, we must show that we control the Temple Mount... I call upon all of Israel to come to the Mount on [Tisha B'Av] and show that it belongs to the Jewish nation." Read More

IsraelNN.com. by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu. 08.10.08

Jews around the world are joining those in Israel Sunday to mark the Ninth of the Hebrew month of Av fast day, the day of mourning for the fall of the First and Second Temples. Jerusalem police have closed all entrances to the Old City to vehicular traffic in anticipation of a large number of worshippers to the Western Wall (Kotel)... Torah sages also teach that the Messiah will be born on Tisha B'Av as a sign that there is yet redemption in all the destruction. Read More

Donnie's Remarks...

On the 9th of this month (the Hebrew month Ab) the Jews will mourn the destruction of the two temples that stood on Mount Moriah as they do every year. Some of Israel's gravest tragedies have occurred on this date, but the most prophetically significant is the fact that both the First and Second Temples were destroyed on Tisha B'Av! The picture above is a wonderful graphic from Dr. Leen Ritmeyer's blog identifying the names and locations of the Temple Mount gates of the Second Temple and how it may have looked. We don't know exactly what the Third Temple will look like and it may not be as robust as the First and Second Temples, but from a prophecy perspective it is here on the Temple Mount that the Third Temple will be rebuilt. According to the Book of Daniel, once the Third Temple is rebuilt the seven prophetic years of the End-times begin. The starting point of the End-times will be when Israel makes a seven year covenant with the Antichrist. Then, exactly 3 1/2 years into the final seven years, the Antichrist will proclaim himself God in this newly rebuilt temple.

If Jerusalem's Temple Mount stands at the heart of the Middle East conflict, and if Muslim intransigence regarding the religious rights of others at the site is any indication, then it would appear all talk of regional peace is somewhat premature. In an interview with Israel Today, Azzam Khatib, director of the Islamic Trust (or Waqf) that safeguards the mosques that sit atop the Temple Mount, said that Jews and Christians who try to pray at the ancient holy site are effectively declaring war. Any non-Muslim "who seeks such an approach is really seeking a religious war," said Khatib, who insisted that the Temple Mount is an exclusively Muslim site and that Jews and Christians should not even want to pray there. READ MORE

YNet News.com. By Kobi Nashoni. Published 7.31.08

Mourning over the destruction of Jerusalem is normal in the month of Av, but at the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faith Movement all focus is on the "big day" - the day in which the Third Temple will be built. As part of the preparations, hundreds of teenagers are expected to sign the "Temple Treaty" and to proclaim, "We commit to doing everything in our power to abide by this commandment and to devote at least half an hour a week toward this effort." In the youth conference conducted by the Temple Institute in the Old City of Jerusalem, scheduled for Thursday, participants will discuss possible plans of action to further the building of the Temple. Under the title, "Building the Temple, it's in Our Hands," lessons will be given by rabbis identified with the Temple and for the first time ever, a treaty pertaining to the necessity of building the Temple will be revealed. READ MORE

Donnie's Remarks...

Two news stories. Two very different perspectives. The Temple Mount is fast becoming the heart of a conflict. One group - Jews - pushing hard for the rebuilding of the Third Temple. The other group - Muslims - denying any existence of any Jewish temple. When I first became a Christian and got interested in prophecy (way back in the '70's), I remember learning that the temple would need to be rebuilt before Jesus would return. At that time stories about the Temple Mount and a Third Jewish Temple were few and far between. How different it is today. News stories about the Third Temple abound and are front page news. I think most Christians still find it difficult to imagine a Third Temple on the same site as the Dome of the Rock, but the Bible predicts this temple will be rebuilt. Will the Dome of the Rock be destroyed? Or will the Jewish Temple and the Dome co-exist side by side? Time will tell. Don't we live in exciting times?

In the News...

Despite decades of work on the Temple Mount, you had never before drawn it from the northwest, showing it in relation to Golgotha. Why not?

That is true. The reason is that from the angle of view in the Golgotha drawing, one cannot today see the Temple Mount. I usually make reconstruction drawings to show what a site looked like from the most visited direction. That is why my well-known reconstruction drawing of the Temple Mount has the southwest corner in the foreground, for that is the way people approach the Temple Mount excavations.

The viewpoint of the Golgotha drawing would be located in the vicinity of the present-day New Gate at the northwest corner of the Old City. You will never find a guide standing there trying to explain what the Temple Mount looked like, for one cannot see the Temple Mount from that location. One needs to mentally eliminate all the buildings on this side of the Temple Mount and imagine what the area would have looked like 2,000 years ago.

It's probably the combination of lack of knowledge plus the result of seeing too many popular films on the life of Christ, but the mental image I always had was a hill far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. But according to the ESV Study Bible depiction, when Jesus was talking to the thief on his left, he would have seen the massive Herodian Temple in the background. As he looked out at his beloved friend John and his mother Mary he would have seen the Hasmonean Palace and Herod's Palace in the distance behind them, where he had stood the night before in front of Herod and Pilate. From the cross he could perhaps have seen the tomb into which his dead body would soon be laid. It changes the entire setting, doesn't it?

Yes, the whole purpose of making accurate reconstruction drawings is to present a scenario, as realistic and authentic as possible. One must also take into account that the site of the crucifixion in Jerusalem was chosen by the Romans, not only for the punishment of criminals, but also as a deterring factor for the whole population. It was therefore located close to one of the major gateways into Jerusalem, the Gennath Gate, and along the busy biblical highway which ran from Shechem in the north to Hebron and Beersheba in the south. That the site was in full view of those traveling along that major road is indicated by Mark 15:29, which speaks of "those who passed by" the place of execution. There have been suggestions based on ancient documents that Golgotha may even have been closer to the Gennath Gate than the site of the Holy Sepulcher.

It would have been with mixed feelings that Jesus looked over the city from the cross. The whole of Jerusalem lay, as it were, at his feet. He would have seen the beautiful Herodian Temple, of which he had prophesied that not one stone shall be left upon another (Mark 13:2; Luke 21:6) and, as you say, the sumptuous palaces where he had been condemned to death. He would have been very sad when he cast a last glance over this beautiful city that never responded to his call and he would have remembered the words he said earlier: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!" (Matt. 23:37). READ MORE

Donnie's Remarks...

I ran across this awesome drawing of what the Temple Mount may have looked like at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus. As I was reading the interview and looking at the drawing, my 'sanctified imagination' took over and I began to think of all the scriptures that link Jesus and his ministry in the Temple. For instance, as a baby Jesus was presented in the Temple (Luke 2:21). The boy Jesus, when he was twelve years old, was at the Temple interacting with Israel's leaders and teachers (Luke 2:42-46). The temptation of Jesus by Satan occurred at the highest point of the Temple (Luke 4:9). Everyday Jesus was teaching at the Temple (Luke 19:45-47). Jesus healed in the Temple (John 5:14-15). The authority of Jesus was questioned at the Temple (Luke 20:1-2). And the signs of the end of the age were first taught to the disciples in the Temple (Luke 21:5-6). The Temple was the place of His ministry!

The Temple Mount has always been and will always be Israel's most holy site. The Temple represents the right relationship between the Lord and his chosen nation Israel. In 70 A.D. this magnificent Temple was destroyed, exactly as Jesus predicted. God's relationship with Israel was broken until she became a nation again in 1948. Today, the Muslim Dome of the Rock occupies this holy site and it is on this very site we are looking for the Third Temple to be rebuilt during Daniel's 70th week. Tragically, the Third Temple, also known as the Tribulation Temple, will NOT represent Israel's restoration and right relationship with God. It will be the temple in which the Antichrist will proclaim himself to be God. At that point, Israel's eyes will be opened to the fact that they have missed their true Messiah, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Ultimately, and it is almost too hard to believe, a fourth and final temple is in God's plan and will be built on the Temple Mount. Detailed instructions are recorded in Ezekiel chapters 40-48. This future temple relates to Israel when she is totally re-established in the land and God brings about the Time of Restoration during Christ's Millennial Kingdom!

Matthew 19:27-28 (NIV) 27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" 28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Acts 3:17-21 (NIV) 17 "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

In the News...

Wearing a turban and a light blue tunic threaded with silver, a man stands in a workshop in Jerusalem's Old City beside spools of white thread affixed to sewing machines. A painting of high priests performing an animal sacrifice beside the First Temple illustrates the function of the room. On Monday, the Temple Institute started preparing to build a Third Temple on Jerusalem's Mount Moriah, the site of the Dome of the Rock and the Aksa mosque, by inaugurating a workshop that manufactures priestly garments. After Efrat Chief Rabbi Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, a Kohen himself, gets measured for his own set of Kohanim garments, Aviad Jeruffi, the clothing's designer, strums "To Ascend to the Temple Mount" on his guitar in celebration. Priestly garments have not been worn since the destruction of the Second Temple by Rome in 70 CE and cannot be functional until a Third Temple is constructed. READ MORE

JERUSALEM NEWS WIRE By Stan Goodenough July 02, 2008

Another step on the long road towards the restoration of Temple Worship in Jerusalem was reportedly taken Monday with the opening of a new workshop in which robes will be manufactured for practicing priests. According to a report in The Jerusalem Post Wednesday, a number of Kohanim, (Jews in the Cohen family line who trace their ancestry back to Aaron, the first High Priest) have already had measurements taken for the biblically-described vestments... The new workshop was inaugurated by the Temple Institute which is situated in Jerusalem's old City, just a stone's throw from the Temple Mount - the site of the first and second temples and the place where, according to the Bible, the Third Temple will be built to welcome the Messiah. READ MORE

(IsraelNN.com) In a ceremony befitting the Time of Redemption, tailors at the Temple Institute in Jerusalem's Old City began taking measurements of Kohanim earlier this month in anticipation of an even bigger event -- the dedication of the Third Temple. STORY & ARUTZ 7 VIDEO

Donnie's Remarks...

In their fascinating book, The Feasts of the Lord, Kevin Howard and Marvin Rosenthal speak to the significance of the rebuilt temple and Israel's repentance: "Daniel's seventieth week (the final seven years of this age) is still future. The Bible teaches that it will begin when an evil ruler arises in the end of days. In Jewish theology, he is known as Armilus. In Christian theology, he is known as Antichrist. In the middle of the seventieth week, he will desecrate the rebuilt temple with an image of himself and cause the sacrificial system to cease (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:15; 2 Th. 2:4). He will persecute the Jewish people, forcing them to flee to the wilderness: 'And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time' (Dan. 12:1; cf. Jer. 30:7; Rev. 12:6):

But, the Lord will stand up in great wrath to execute His judgment upon the wicked. The Messiah will do battle against His enemies and, at the end of the seventieth week, break the yoke of Gentile oppression from the neck of Israel (Ps. 2:9: Isa. 9:4). Then the Messianic throne will be established 'And the Lord shall be King over all the earth' (Zech. 14:9; cf. Ps. 2:8).

When the Messiah comes to establish His throne, Israel will look on Him (Jesus) whom they pierced, and repent (Zech. 12:10). The nation's sin will be dealt with, and the Lord will remember their sin no more (Isa. 43:25; Jer. 31:34). Isaiah prophesied that spiritually the nation would be born in a day (Isa. 66:8; cf. Rom. 11:26). This will be the prophetic fulfillment of Israel's Day of Atonement as the nation comes face to face in repentance with their Messiah at the end of the seventieth week (Dan. 9:24)."

Friends, I believe current reports strongly suggest we are on the verge of witnessing the rebuilding of the temple and the re-start of the Jewish sacrificial system.

In the News...

By Chris Mitchell. CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief. June 29, 2008

CWN.org - The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is one of the most sacred places on earth, and one of the most contested. For Jews, it's the place where the Holy Temple once stood. Today Muslims control the Temple Mount and Jews are forbidden to worship there. But that hasn't stopped some people from making plans to build the next temple. Everyday, three times a day, Jews recite this prayer: "May it be your will that the temple be speedily rebuilt in our own time." It's a prayer they've prayed for almost 2,000 years. But today, Jews here in Jerusalem are doing more than just praying. Just a few steps away from the western wall, rabbis and craftsmen are building what they call a "temple in waiting." Chaim Richman is a director at the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. "The Temple Institute is actively engaged in the research and preparation of the resumption of service in the holy temple to the extent of actually preparing operational blueprints for the construction of the temple according to the most modern standards," he said. This menorah is just one of several vessels being created for the next temple. It's covered with 95 pounds of pure gold and has a price tag of $2 million. Piece by piece, the third temple is taking shape, with priest's garments, vessels of copper, gold, and silver, and a new generation of levite priests specially trained for temple service. "We have enough in place now to resume divine service and to build the temple," Richman said. "But obviously, a lot of things have to happen in order for this to happen. "Richman isn't the only one who's ready to rebuild... Read More

Donnie's Remarks...

Israel's first temple was built by Solomon in 950 B.C. and destroyed in 586 B.C. The second temple was rebuilt in 515 B.C., was renovated by Herod around the time of Christ, and then destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. As of today, no third temple has been rebuilt. However, when I read or listen to a news report like this one, I don't understand how anyone could doubt that Israel is driving toward the rebuilding of the third temple on the Temple Mount. The prophet Daniel, the Lord Jesus Christ, The Apostle Paul and the Apostle John all refer to a rebuilt temple (with sacrifices) in the last days. It is for this reason millions of Christians believe the third temple must be rebuilt on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and where the end times will ultimately play out. By that, I mean that the Antichrist will take his seat in this temple, and demand worship, declaring himself God (aka the Abomination of Desolation). In order for the Antichrist to take his seat in the temple of God, a temple must exist on the Temple Mount. When the Antichrist persuades Israel to sign a 7 year covenant with him, he may seize this site and permit a temple to be built on it. This would endear him to Israel. The rebuilding of the temple is one of the key signs that Christians should watch for to indicate if we are in the end-times.

Daniel 9:27 (NIV) 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him".

Daniel 12:11 (NIV) 11 "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

Matthew 24:15 (NIV) 15 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand--

2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NIV) 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Revelation 11:1-2 (NIV) 1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

This important prophetic development is one we should continue to keep our eyes on. The above pictures come from Arutz Sheva, Photo Essay: Preparing for the Passover in the Promised Land published 4.15.08. Click on either photo to link you to the original source for some amazing pictures regarding the upcoming Jewish celebration of Passover in Jerusalem.

In addition, Israel Today gives the following summary to help explain just what's going on with all this sacrifice stuff... 'A Bible-adherent Jewish group on Sunday ritually slaughtered a young lamb in what is called a "rehearsal" for the renewal of the Passover sacrifice once the Jerusalem temple is rebuilt. The Temple Movement won approval to carry out the practice sacrifice from Israel's High Court on Friday after animal rights groups asserted that the lamb would be put through inhumane suffering. In its legal response, the Temple Movement explained that the slaughter would be carried out according to biblical standards, which is the same method used to slaughter lambs at kosher slaughterhouses around the country. The sacrifice and accompanying religious ceremonies were performed at a prominent yeshiva overlooking Jerusalem's Temple Mount, which is still occupied by several Muslim shrines.'

In sales vernacular, we call this "the assumptive close." You are taught to act as if the other person has made the decision already. Here's the point, many religious Jews in Israel are acting as if the decision to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple has already been made. It is no longer a question of if, but when. Joel Rosenberg captures this kind of thinking in his new novel Dead Heat and tells it this way; "I'm accelerating the completion of the Temple precisely because the world is going up in flames. Don't you see? There won't be world peace until the Messiah comes. And the Messiah won't come until there's a Temple. Now is not the time to apply the brakes. Now is the time to hit the accelerator and get this thing done. The world needs the Messiah more than ever... As to whether it's His first visit or His Second Coming, well, we'll ask Him when he gets here."

We just keep getting more and more fascinating news from Jerusalem regarding the Jewish temples (Be sure you click on the coin to see the detail pictures of the half-shekel). Those who have prophetic insight understand the significance of these reports and I believe these kind of news stories will continue to increase. And they are preparing us for something big. For what? Daniel prophesied that the beginning of the second three-and-a-half years of Daniel's 70th week will feature the abolishment of the daily sacrifices and the setting up of an abomination in the Temple (See Daniel 7:25; 9:27; Matthew 24:15; Revelation 11:2-3). For us, this means we will continue to watch for the astonishing announcement of the rebuilding of the Temple and the re-institution of the daily animal sacrifices. You can be sure of it. It will happen. The timing is the only unknown. This is sure getting exciting isn't it?

Daniel 12:8-11 (NASB77) 8 As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, "My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?" 9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. 10 "Many will be purged, purified and refined; but the wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. 11 "And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

The Western Wall (aka 'the Kotel') plays an important role in the life of the Jewish people today. It is one of Israel's most popular tourist attractions. Interestingly, and contrary to tradition, the western wall is not a remnant of the original Solomonic Temple, but rather a section of the massive retaining walls that Herod built almost a thousand years later that extended the Temple platform. Herod doubled the original area of the temple during Jesus time. Prior to the Six-Day war of 1967, the prayer area in front of the wall consisted of a narrow street. As soon as the old city was taken by Israel, the empty hovels that stood near the wall were bulldozed and the whole area lowered, revealing more of the massive Herodian stones. Day and night, people pray at the wall, which is the closest point to the temple area where orthodox rabbinical authorities allow Jews to go. Written prayers and supplications are often stuffed into the crevices between the Herodian stones. Most religious Jews do not enter the Temple Mount for fear of treading on the site of the Holy of Holies whose location has not yet been identified. (Source: The Quest by Leen Ritmeyer) Little wonder President Bush deems this site too controversial. It and the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock are prophesied to be key warning signs for Christians in the Last Days.

Revelation 11:1-2 (NASB) 1 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 "Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.